Window construction



y 15, 1956 H. A. ETLING WINDOW CONSTRUCTION I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1950 l 1 1 l I 1 l l I l l l l I l J 1 l I HAROLD A. ETLlNG 9 FIG. I

ATTORNEYS May 15, 1956 Filed May 3. 1950 H. A. ETLlNG WINDOW CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

HAROLD A. ETLING ATTORNEYS United States Patent O WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Harold A. Etling, Marshallville, Ohio, assignor to Weather-Seal Incorporated, Barberton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 3, 1950, Serial No. 159,757

7 Claims. (Cl. 160-90) This invention relates to window constructions, especially to windows of the auxiliary or storm window type wherein window sashes and screens are removably positioned in frames that have been attached to conventional window casings.

Heretofore many different types of window of the storm window type have been proposed. Most of these constructions have been relatively costly and have been individually produced to specific measurements of the window casings with which such auxiliary window means are to be associated. In some of these previous window constructions, efforts have been made to provide a selfstoring arrangement for an extra window sash whereby a window or screen for the unit and not being used at that time can be stored in the frame of the storm window.

Also relatively expensive materials and designs of construction have normally been used in the windows.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel, inexpensive type of a window construction which is characterized by its ability to be made in standard sizes and to be positioned snugly in a window frame with a minimum of sizing and fitting work.

Another object of the invention is to provide storm windows and screens that are made from inexpensive materials that can be readily assembled to provide units that can easily be engaged with window frames by airtight joints.

Another object of the invention is to use a removable lock strip or bar for removably securing a window sash in a window frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable lock strip with releasable lock means for positioning the lock strip in engagement with a window and window frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple kind of a bottom rail in a window construction, which rail is fixedly secured between edge portions of edge window frames, and which may have ventilating means provided therein.

Yet another object of the invention is to utilize a removable lock strip in a window farme for retaining a window positioned in the frame, for locking an extra window or screen in a stored position in the window asembly, and also for retaining a bottom rail in the window assembly.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a simple but positive type of lock means for retaining a lock strip in engagement with the remainder of a window frame; to utilize spring detents for retaining window I ice attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partially broken away and shown in section, of window frame means embodying the principles of the invention, taken on line 11 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are enlarged horizontal sections, partly broken away, taken on lines 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4 of Fig. 1 with conventional double hung windows being indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section, partially broken away, taken on line 66 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 77 of Fig. 1.

In the following specification and the accompanying drawings, corresponding reference numerals are used to identify corresponding parts so that identification of such corresponding parts is facilitated.

Broadly speaking, the present invention can be considered to reside in the provision of an auxiliary window construction which includes a pair of opposed side frames one of which has a pair of parallel longitudinally extending grooves formed therein for engaging with windows or screens, whereas the other edge frame has similar grooves formed therein and extending only a portion of the length thereof, a lock strip received in the remaining portion of the second side frame for forming therewith means for engaging with one edge portion of a window to position same, and releasable means on the lock strip for engaging it with the edge frame on which such strip is positioned.

The lock strip also may retain a stored window member in the window frame of the invention, and to retain a removable bottom rail in engagement with the remainder of the frame.

Referring now in detail to the structure shown in the drawings, an auxiliary or storm window unit is indicated in general by the numeral 1. This storm window assembly is positioned within a window casing 2 which is secured in the wall of a building or house in a conventional manner. It is a feature of the invention that the window unit 1 is preformed to standard sizes and normally may be a little loosely received within the window casing 2 and is abutted against conventional blind stops 3 that extend vertically of the casing 2. The unit is secured to the stops 3 by screws 4. Any gaps which may exist between the laterally outer portions of the window unit 1 and the adjacent surfaces of the casing 2 may be covered by thin strips 5 to give the assembly of the invention a neat, attractive appearance.

The window unit of the invention includes an auxiliary or supplemental frame comprising edge strips or frames 6 and 7, a top frame, or rail 8 and a bottom rail or breaker 9 with such top and bottom rails 8 and 9 being secured between opposed surfaces of the edge frames 6 and 7 and lying in a plane defined thereby. The edge frame 6 has a pair of parallel window receiving grooves 10 and 11 provided therein whereas the top rail 8 has similarly positioned grooves 12 and 13 formed therein, whereas the remaining edge frame 7 has grooves 14 and 15 provided therein in only one portion, usually the upper portion thereof. The grooves 14 and 15 extend only the length of a window sash along the edge frame 7. All of these grooves 10 through 15 are similarly positioned in opposed surfaces of the frame means of the window unit of the invention whereby the window sashes or screens or equivalent members that are being positioned by the window unit of the invention can be engaged with these grooves 10 through 15 for retention of same in the window unit.

The window unit of the invention includes a pair of substantially similar windows or window sashes 16 and 17. These window sashes 16 and 17 are preferably made from strips of plywood or equivalent low cost, sturdy material and the inner edges of these sashes are grooved for receiving window panes 18 and 19, respectively therein. Usually the ends of the strips forming the window sashes 16 and 17 are rabbetted in a complementary manner so that rivets 20 or similar means can be used to secure overlapped portions of the sashes 16 and 17 together and simultaneously retain the window panes 18 and 19 in place. The outer edges of the window sashes 16 and 17 may be recessed as at 21 to receive metal edge strips 22 or other equivalent devices. The metal strips 22 are normally the portions of the window sashes that seat in the receiving grooves provided in the frame means of the window unit.

The adjacent edges of the window sashes 16 and 17 usually are formed of complementary shape and the lower edge of the upper window sash 16 is shown as having a downwardly extending edge flange provided thereon with the upper edge of the lower window sash 17 seating snugly against the lower surface of this upper sash, as indicated in Fig. 6.

Figs. 3, 4 and of the drawings best show that the lower inner surface of the side edge frame 7 is recessed for the lower portion of its length, or such edge frame member can be considered to have a flange 23 formed thereon, usually on the outer edge thereof, which flange 23 extends along the edge frame 7 for a length substantially equal to the height of the window sash 17. Thus the upper window sash 16 can be engaged with the frame means provided therefor by engaging one edge 22 of the window sash with the lower length of the recess 11 provided in the edge frame 6 and then the window sash can be pivoted around such edge thereof to bring the remaining portion of the window sash into the plane defined by the frame means for the window unit 1 of the invention. After such movement, the upper window sash 16 can he slid upwardly of the unit of the invention to engage the remaining side edge strip 22 of this window sash with the groove 15. The window sash 16 is retained in a given position in the window frame of the invention by means of spring detents 25 that are suitably positioned in the window frame and engage with opposed lateral surfaces of the sash.

The window unit of the invention is also shown as including an auxiliary sash 24 in which a screen 26 is positioned. Such window sash 24 is engaged with the groove formed in the edge frame 6 and with the groove 14 provided in the upper portion of the edge frame 7, being engaged with these grooves in the same manner as that used to engage the window sash 16 with the frame. Spring detents 27 retain the sash 24 at least temporarily in a given position in the upper portion of the window unit of the invention.

In order to aid in retaining the window sash 17 in engagement with the frame of the window unit 1, the bottom rail 9 is provided with an upwardly extending upper edge flange 28 and this flange 28 bears upon the inner surface of the windows sash 17 to press it outwardly against the remainder of the frame means positioning same. It should be noted that the bottom rail 9 will be seated in the frame means of the invention in such a manner as to form an airtight fit with such frame means so that the bottom rail 9 is shown as having a protuberance, in this instance, a pin 29 secured in one edge of the bottom rail and extending therefrom whereas a receiving aperture 30 is provided in the side frame 6 for engaging the pin 29. It will be appreciated that the pin 29 may be replaced by a continuous edge flange which could be seated, for example, in one of the grooves 10 or 11 formed in the edge frame 6 and achieve the desired airtight fit for this end of the bottom rail. The other edge of the bottom rail seats against the flange 23 provided on the lower portion of the edge frame 7. Preferably the lower window sash 17 slideably positions a pair of keeper bars, or keepers 31 and are positioned on opposed lateral portions of the sash and may he slid laterally with relation thereto to protrude from the window sash and engage with the edge frames 6 and 7 in special receiving recesses formed therein so the lower sash 17 can be readily engaged with or disengaged from the edge frames.

In order to insure that the lower window sash 17 is positively secured in the frame means provided in a removable but airtight manner, a lock strip, rail or bar 32 is provided and is releasably engaged with the remainder of the window frame unit. This lock strip 32 is secured to the edge frame 7 by means of a catch 33 which is pivotally secured to the lock strip 32 and protrudes laterally therefrom for movement into a slot 34. The slot 34 is formed in the flanged surface of the edge frame 7. The catch 33 is usually provided with a lock finger 35. A lock pin 36 is secured to the edge frame 7 and protrudes through the slot 34 whereby the finger 35 can be swung to engage with the pin 36 and secure the lock strip 32 in position.

As an important auxiliary function of the lock strip 32, the upper end of this strip is adapted to be positioned immediately below the lower end of the groove 14 formed in the edge frame 7 at the upper portion thereof so that the auxiliary window sash 24 when once engaged with the window unit of the invention cannot be released therefrom until the lock strip 32 is removed. It will be noted that in Fig. 6, the upper edge of the lock strip 32 is shown positioned in spaced relationship to the lower edge of the auxiliary sash 24 whereby the sash does not interfere in any manner with the positioning of the lock strip. It also should be noticed that the upper edge of the lock strip may be beveled as indicated at 37 and be more or less wedged into engagement with an overhung edge portion formed in the edge frame 7. Yet an additional auxiliary function of the lock strip 32 is provided by a downwardly extending edge flange 38 on the lower end of the lock strip 32 which extends over the bottom rail 9 to aid in retaining same in position in the window unit.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide special ventilation means in the window unit of the invention and to this end a pair of parallel slots 39 or other similar holes or apertures are provided in and extend through the bottom rail 9. A cover strip 40 is pivotally secured to the bottom rail 9 by a screw or pin 41 so that the cover strip 40 can be lifted to expose the slots 39, when desired. A stop 42 is provided to engage the free end of the cover strip and retain it in its closed position.

It will be seen that the window unit of the invention can be provided in different standard frame sizes and that the only fitting required to position such window unit in a window casing, would be to cut off the edge frames 6 and 7 to the desired length and to trim off the bottom portion of the breaker rail 9. If the length of the top and bottom rails need to be changed, they can easily be sawed to the desired size.

It also should be noted that it is relatively easy to remove a window sash from a stored position in the window unit or to store an auxiliary window sash, as desired.

In order to change one of the window sashes engaged with the edge frames 6 and 7, it would be necessary to first remove the lock strip 32, after which the breaker rail 9 would be removed and then the window sash 17 could be removed by releasing the catches 33 and sliding the keepers 31 to their innermost positions. Of course, any auxiliary window sash, such as the sash 24, stored in the upper portion of the window unit of the invention, could be removed as soon as the lock strip 32 has been taken olf. If the upper edge of the lower window sash 17 were not beveled as indicated in Fig. 6, the lower window sash could be removed without disengaging the breaker rail 9. It should be noted that the adjacent surfaces of the cover strip 40 and the stop 42 provided therefor are beveled with relation to each other to urge the cover strip to seat tightly against the surface of the rail 9. Usually the sash frame and supplemental frames receiving same are formed from wood and usually the windows of the invention position a pair of sashes in a vertically extending window casing.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that a relatively inexpensive, easily constructed and positioned auxiliary window unit of the invention has been provided. This unit uses therein a special type of a lock strip that can urge one window sash tightly into engagement with the frame means, whereas the lock strip also may function to retain other portions of the storm window assembly in place. Thus it is submitted that the objects of the invention have been realized.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1 In an auxiliary or storm window, a pair of opposed frame members one of which has a pair of parallel grooves formed therein and extending the length thereof, the second of said frame members having a pair of grooves formed in one end portion thereof and terminating in a recessed portion of said frame member that extends the remainder of the length thereof, said grooves in said frame members being opposed to provide two pairs of opposed grooves for positioning a pair of window sashes therebetween with one window sash being received in each opposed pair of grooves, a removable lock strip positioned in said recess formed in said second frame member and providing therewith a window frame receiving groove in such portion of said second frame member, the upper end of said lock strip closing an end of one groove in said second frame member to retain a window frame therein, means for securing said lock strip to said second frame member, and a bottom rail extending between and engaged with said frame members, said lock strip having an end flange engaging said bottom rail and retaining it in engagement with said frame members.

2. In an auxiliary or storm Window, a pair of opposed frame members one of which has a pair of parallel grooves formed therein and extending the length thereof, the second of said frame members having a pair of grooves formed in one end portion thereof and terminating in a recessed portion of said frame member that extends the remainder of the length thereof, said grooves in said frame members being opposed to provide two pairs of opposed grooves for positioning a pair of window sashes therebetween with one window sash being received in each opposed pair of grooves, a removable lock strip positioned in said recess formed in said second frame member and providing therewith a window frame receiving groove in such portion of said second frame member, the upper end of said lock-strip closing an end of one groove in said second frame member to retain a window frame therein, and means for securing said lock strip to said second frame member.

3. In an auxiliary or storm window, a pair of opposed frame members one of which has a pair of parallel grooves formed therein and extending the length thereof, the second of said frame members having a pair of grooves formed in only one portion thereof, said grooves in said frame members being opposed to provide two pairs of opposed grooves for positioning a pair of window sashes therebetween with one window being received in each opposed pair of grooves, and a removable lock strip for engagement with said second frame member and providing therewith in the non-grooved portion thereof a window sash positioning means in such portion of said second frame member, the upper end of said lock bar closing an end of one said groove in said second frame member to retain a window sash therein.

4. In an auxiliary or storm window, a pair of opposed frame members one of which has a pair of parallel grooves formed therein and extending the length thereof, the second of said frame members having a groove formed in one end portion thereof and terminating in a recessed portion of said frame member that extends the remainder of the length thereof, said grooves in said frame members being opposed to provide means for positioning window sashes therebetween, a removable lock strip for positioning in said recess formed in said second frame member and retaining a window sash in such portion of said second frame member, and a bottom rail extending between and engaged with said frame members for engaging a window sash, said lock strip having an end flange engaging said bottom rail and retaining it in engagement with said frame members.

5. In a storm window, a pair of opposed frame sections for positioning window sashes therebetween, a lock strip, and means releasably securing said lock strip to one of said frame sections to secure a window sash thereto and to complete a groove in such frame section, said frame sections having a pair of opposed storage grooves formed therein, said lock strip closing the lower end of one storage groove to retain a stored article immovably positioned therein.

6. In a storm window, a pair of opposed side frame members one of which has a pair of parallel grooves formed therein and extending the length thereof, the second of said frame members having a pair of grooves formed in only the upper end portion thereof and terminating in a recessed portion of said frame member that extends the remainder of the length thereof, said grooves in said frame members being opposed to provide two pairs of opposed grooves, a pair of window sashes positioned in said two pairs of grooves with one window sash being received in each opposed pair of grooves, a removable lock strip for being positioned in said recess formed in said second frame member and providing therewith a Window frame receiving groove in such portion of said second frame member, said window receiving groove being opposed to one of said parallel grooves, a third window sash positioned in said window receiving groove and the opposed one of said parallel grooves in alignment and engagement with one of said pair of window sashes, the upper end of said lock strip closing an end of one groove in said second frame member to retain the second of said pair of window sashes therein, all of said window sashes being immovably positioned in the storm window, and means for securing said lock strip to said second frame member.

7. In an auxiliary or storm window, a pair of opposed frame members one of which has a pair of parallel grooves formed therein and extending the length thereof, the second of said frame members having a pair of grooves formed in one end portion thereof extending the heighth of a window sash and terminating in a recessed portion of said frame member that extends the remainder of the length thereof, said grooves in said frame member being opposed to provide two pairs of opposed grooves for positioning a pair of window sashes therebetween with one window sash being received in each opposed pair of grooves, a removable lock strip for being positioned in said recess formed in said second frame member and providing therewith a window frame receiving groove in such portion of said second frame member, the upper end of said lock strip closing an end of one groove in said second frame member to retain a window frame fixedly positioned therein, means for securing said lock strip to said second frame member, and a bottom rail extending between said frame members and bearing against said recessed portion of one frame member, said lock strip having an end flange engaging a surface of said bottom rail to retain such bottom rail in engagement with said recessed portion of said frame member.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Croley Apr. 9, 1867 McComb Nov. 7, 1876 Bury Feb. 14, 1888 Early Nov. 18, 1890 Bury Nov. 3, 1891 Brundage Feb. 23, 1892 8 Dunn Oct. 16, 1900 Parker Aug. 4, 1903 Corrigan Oct. 11, 1910 Godda rd et a1. Aug. 31, 1915 Fingerhut Dec. 28, 1920 Triller Nov. 29, 1938 Ensminger Nov. 11, 1941 Dautrick June 18, 1946 

